What's In A Worldview? Star Wars and the 4 Worldview Questions

What’s In a Worldview? Part II – Star Wars and the 4 Worldview Questions

Tawa J. Anderson, W. Michael Clark, and David K. Naugle, An Introduction to Christian Worldview: Pursuing God's Perspective in a Pluralistic World. IVP Academic, 2017. Amazon link

Contemporary Cultural Worldview Meditation

 

In my last few posts, I have been talking about the nature of worldview – what is a worldview, and what all is a worldview comprised of? I have suggested that worldview is the conceptual lens through which we see, understand, and interpret the world and our place within it. Our worldview is generally formed pre-theoretically – that is, without our conscious thought and consideration. Worldview takes root based on our experiences and the influences exerted upon us by friends, family, education, and culture.

Each person’s worldview answer four fundamental sets of questions about life, the universe, and everything: What is our nature? What is our world? What is our problem? And What is our end?

It is interesting, then, to consider the worldviews displayed by people around us, including the worldviews displayed in popular culture. So today – consider a brief jaunt into the worldview of the Star Wars world …

Star Wars and the Worldview Questions

Consider the worldview exemplified in the original Star Wars trilogy (now episodes 4-6).

What is our nature? On an individual level, Luke Skywalker’s identity and nature present a pressing question throughout the trilogy: he is a Jedi prodigy, the one destined to triumph over the Sith Lord. On a global level, human beings are portrayed as merely one among a myriad of intelligent beings inhabiting a vast universe filled with sentient life.

What is our world? Again, we are part of a massive universe where science and technology reign. There are no references to spiritual beings or divine entities, only the ubiquitous midichlorians (though we don’t find out that they are midichlorians until the release of episode 1), which govern the balance of the universe.

What is our problem? The Force is currently imbalanced by the domination of the emperor and his Sith partner, Darth Vader. The Empire is oppressive and suppressing, seeking to stamp out independent free-minded peoples throughout the universe, particularly through the use of their weapon of mass destruction, the Death Star.

What is our end? The purpose of humanity (actually, of sentient life) is somewhat unclear in the Star Wars films. Perhaps it is maintaining and living within the balance of the Force. Perhaps it is freedom from any autocratic government. Perhaps it is finding fulfillment in love or personal accomplishments.

I think it is a healthy process to become more worldview-aware in both our personal interactions and our cultural consumption. Ask questions of the music you hear, the shows you watch, the movies you indulge. You do not need to become a ‘cultural critic’—always finding fault with the perspectives displayed, or refusing to watch certain shows because they embrace or exemplify alien worldviews. At the same time, it can be educational and illuminating to understand the worldview behind popular culture!

For more on Worldview, its nature and impact, worldview analysis, the contours of Christian worldview, and worldview comparison, please check out our recently-published Worldview textbook:

Tawa J. Anderson, W. Michael Clark, and David K. Naugle, An Introduction to Christian Worldview: Pursuing God's Perspective in a Pluralistic World. IVP Academic, October 2017. 384 pp. Purchase via Amazon